My bags get a workout, and while I have bags that I really like, I’m constantly looking for something better.

Lucky for me I have a job where I get to test bags on a pretty regular basis.

I’ve been carrying the Rough Rider Messenger Bag from San Francisco-based Waterfield Designs for the last month or so. While there’s a lot to like about it, I found a few things to nitpick about as well.

The Rough Rider (starting at $335 at sfbags.com) is just plain beautiful from the outside. It’s made of premium, naturally tanned, distressed leather that’s left rough on the edges for a well-worn look that is really eye-catching.

This bag looks like someone just unloaded it off a stagecoach.

There are no exterior pockets, just a leather flap secured by two metal snaps.

The strap is wide black webbing that’s sewn into the front of the bag in a way I’ve never seen before, but it really helps keep the strap from getting twisted. The strap also has a removable shoulder cushion that’s leather on top and knobby rubber material on the bottom to keep it from slipping off.

There are two models, for 13- and 15-inch laptops, but there’s not any sort of special laptop compartment or cushioning in the bag. I’d recommend you use a padded sleeve on your laptop inside the Rough Rider. Even the pictures of this bag on the Waterfield website show the laptop in a sleeve, and Waterfield sells the sleeves.

The only option is the color of the material that makes up the inside pockets. There are six choices.

Inside, the bag is a model of simplicity.

On the front side, on the piece that snaps to the cover, there are four large pockets made of a semi-stretchy fabric just the size of an iPad mini. The pockets are not stretchy enough to hold your laptop’s power supply. They’re more for flat items.

For road warriors used to having a bag with pen pockets, water bottle holders and zippered compartments for every little thing, the Rough Rider is a bit of a letdown.

This is a simple, no-nonsense kind of bag that’s built to last for decades.

The leather is thick, and it feels stiff when the bag is new. After a month of use, the leather had softened a bit and acquired nicks and scratches that gave it a rugged look.

If you like a cleaner look, you can work out those nicks and scratches with a quick swipe of a damp towel.

The top of the bag has a briefcase-type handle that’s a little too low-profile for my big hands. I wish the handle had more depth, but I’m glad it is there. The top handle is also a bit too far toward the back for my taste. Holding the Rough Rider by the handle when the bag is loaded up felt a bit off balance.

The Rough Rider is a heavy leather messenger bag first and a laptop bag second.

A video on the company’s website says the Rough Rider is made with a heavy-duty sewing machine from the 1940s that’s strong enough to sew a penny onto leather.

The materials and stitching on the Rough Rider are of the highest quality, and this bag is certainly worth every penny.

I might recommend it for someone with a local commute; there are certainly easier bags to pack up and take on a plane two or three times per week.

Overall, this is a bag for someone who is more comfortable carrying a briefcase than a black canvas computer bag.

To post a comment, log into your chosen social network and then add your comment below. Your comments are subject to our Terms of Service and the privacy policy and terms of service of your social network. If you do not want to comment with a social network, please consider writing a letter to the editor.